
1. Hotshots Racing
2. Neon Abyss
3. Elvira's House of Horrors
4. Tesla vs Lovecraft
Tesla vs. Lovecraft is amazing, isn't it? It made my list last year because I loved it to pieces.
MaxShrek wrote:1. Hotshots Racing
2. Neon Abyss
3. Elvira's House of Horrors
4. Tesla vs LovecraftTesla vs. Lovecraft is amazing, isn't it? It made my list last year because I loved it to pieces.
It'll probably be on my list next year. Its on my hard drive... just won't get to it this year.
well, turns out I have played more than 10 new games for me this year (that's right, I've played 12 and nearly forgot about one of them!) so 2 aren't going to make the list, and one I'm going to talk about but not rank. As for the top 2 games either could each have won it to be honest. In the end it boiled down to what the games meant to me personally that got them into their final positions.
So, the short easy list for easy reference is:
1. The Banner Saga
2. Titanfall 2
3. XCOM: Chimera Squad
4. Into the Breach
5. Age of Wonders: Planetfall
6. Doom (2016)
7. Phoenix Point (up to the One Year Edition)
8. Wasteland 3
9. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
10. Star Control: Origins
The 2 that got away:
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
Galactic Civilizations 3
The one that was probably my favourite but I'm not ranking because it's still in Early Access:
Baldurs Gate 3.
Let's Go:
1. The Banner Saga
Although the cRPG club have danced around playing this for a while, it was actually gifted to me a couple of months before it eventually won the vote, and I ended up playing it before then more or less because I'd just come out of Divinity: Original Sin 2 and didn't really know what I wanted to play next. I interspersed playing it with Doom in the end, which is something of an odd mix but I was pleased with the relief both games gave me from playing the other at times.
I fell in love with this game - the first one - about an hour after I started playing it. It is steeped - drenched even - in a wonderfully melancholic sense of impending doom that permeates everything in the game. However, it never overwhelms the story, nor the precarious and fragile sense of hop at it's heart. On the surface it is a simple tale of surviving ever insurmountable odds while trying to maintain your humanity both to yourselves and other people you interact with during the course of the game, yet also one the reveals its deeper meanings at just the right pace and in just the right way.
Those that do bother to read my posts in various threads will know I have an fairly ambivalent relationship with emotional involvement in games - I always seem to be aware they are just games at end of the day which limits what I'm prepared to invest in them. Just occasionally though one will get through - the Witcher 3 did it, and this one did too, not just because of how it presents its story but also because at it's core its a story about a father and daughter and when it's time to let your child be their own person. While I'm a sucker for that right now due to life circumstances, The Banner Saga does it so well I cried proper, big gulping sobs as the game drew to it's conclusion, partly in thanks to the choices I had made and partly due to the resonance it was having with me which is why it won the top spot for me.
It backs it all up with a more than serviceable turn based combat system, with a plethora of character to choose from and abilities to play with and syngerise with one another. I loved playing it, and while The Banner Saga 2 wasn't quite in the same league it was still fantastic. I'm looking forward to the concluding with The Banner Saga 3 sometime in the New year.
2. Titanfall 2
A game bought on something of a whim that, much like The Banner Saga just sucked me in from the off and became one of the most entertaining gaming experiences I think I've ever had. The single player story campaign is nothing short of magnificent - the way it introduces you to it's combat mechanics & Mechs, the short but perfectly formed storyline, the emotional punch at the end. It was just a wonderful experience all round. It backs that up with a multiplayer I am baffled didn't become more popular than it was. It has one of sleekest, smoothest combat experiences I've ever encountered, that allows you to drop in and contribute, while also taking time to properly master.
Remember people, Jason Statham wrestling in oil!
3. XCOM: Chimera Squad
Not the game I was hoping for (seriously Firaxis, just where is XCOM 3?!?) but one that distilled the core essence of what makes XCOM combat XCOM combat, added a few twists of it's own and backed it up with memorable, smart characters in who's company you more than enjoyed spending time with. Too much so for a lot of people considering all the sweet sexy snake lady, er, memes there are out there (Don't lie. You know who you are) but as a stop gap game it is effortlessly better than a lot of other strategy games out there, without even breaking a sweat.
Still though, I want XCOM 3!
4. Into the Breach
It almost feels like a cheat including this so high up considering I've only been playing it a couple of days, but this is a roguelite TBS game that again distills itself to a core set of gameplay mechanics, and then lets you play with them as best you are able. A game designed around how you learn from failure, it does this by presenting you with a different problem every time you launch your mechs, and a roll back Ttme travelling idea that allows you to restart again when you do inevitably fail. I've been having a ball playing it. A game I'm going to be playing for some time to come I would think.
5. Age of Wonders: Planetfall
The best 4x I've played since Stellaris was released, this manages to bridge the gap between a compelling strategic layer and a tactical combat system where it pays to learn how to use your units properly. Backed up with faction design that present different solutions for different races, it's a game that genuinely plays different every time you fire it up. It also manages the remarkable feat (for a 4x game) of having a single player campaign mode that is more than worth investing time into. For sure it's not perfect - it's very much a combat orientated game - but it plays to it's strengths and knows what it wants to do. A very good game.
6. DOOM (2016)
Another gifted game that I thoroughly enjoyed playing through, and a nice counterpoint to the emotional heft of The Banner Saga. It's got a preposterous over the top story style that fits the tale of the Doom Slayer perfectly, matched up with some great level design and a combat system based on speed, agility and dismembering demons in the most graphic and gory way possible. I had to play this with the door to my office closed, not so that Mini-Sorb would be upset by anything they saw, but so that they didn't constantly stand at my shoulder gleefully telling me to chainsaw every demon in sight in half. Mrs Sorb was not impressed when she caught us doing that, but it was one of the better Father/Daughter bonding experiences we've had in this craziest of years!
7. Phoenix Point
If there were an award for "most improved game of the year" this would win it hands down for me. When I first played it last year it was a feature light, barely finished disappointment to be honest. It had some good ideas for sure, but the implementation just wasn't there and it was so clearly unfinished it was a surprise I went back to it at all.
however, I was really glad I did by the time the second DLC was released towards the end of the summer. Slowly but steadily Snapshot games have fixed, improved and tweaked their game from something very rough but promising into a game that is a strong, capable turn based strategy game in it's own right. For sure it's still got a lot of issues, and there are definitely some core mechanics they need to revisit, but much to my surprises I found myself completing a campaign through thick and thin in a challenge that was anything but a procession.
If you like the firaxis XCOM reboots then this is a game that deserves your attention. And it's still got a lot of improvement ahead of it.
8. Wasteland 3
A cRPG that stands on the strength of the very memorable NPCs, factions and charactera that inXile have created to populate their frozen, post apocalyptic Colorado, as your Arizona Rangers walk blindly into someone else's rather extreme family squabble.
It's got a serviceable storyline, some very funny set pieces (the cult of Reagan AI worshipping Commie haters being a particular standout) that has a lot to say about real world politics and the current state of the world. It's not exactly sutble, but then again it doesn't need to be and it's all the better for it.
Unfortunately the combat is a little bland and unimaginative, and even though it's relatively short for a cRPG - I completed everything I could find to do in around 40 hours - it still had some areas and encounters that were clearly unfinished or didn't make it to release. I was ready for it to be over slightly before it actually was unfortunately. A big improvement on Wasteland 2 for sure, but overall It wasn't quite the experience I was expecting.
9. Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun
Picked up as one the Epic Store's free giveaways, this was another game I started playing on something of a whim, that again marries robust gameplay mechanics with a story that you want to see through to a conclusion. Another "learn by failure£ game, it leads you in wonderfully well, gives you time to map out what it is you want to achieve, and then gives a clear and precise picture of why your carefully laid plans now lie in ruins and all you squad are dead as you blunder into a disaster. Well worth the effort of picking up, and a game you don't often see these days that does it's own thing in it's own way very well indeed.
10. Star Control: Origins
A game that requires very little thought and which has sense of humour you either buy into or don't. The only problem being if you don't you're probably going to be uninstalling it very quickly indeed. This game gave me some much needed relief during the height of the pandemic lockdown, presenting some simple, clear gaming mechanics that required minimal thought while also keep me busy enough not to notice or fill the rest of my mind with more worrisome thoughts at a worrying time. It certainly won't be for everyone, but I did enjoy the time I did spend with it. In the end just blasting around a simple galaxy, blasting away at anything that moves has a lot going for it to be honest. It's a simple gaming loop for sure, but in the right place and the right time it can really work out quite well
The 2 that got away (briefly)
Pathfinder: Kingmaker
A game that it the sum of it's mechanics, but has almost no soul to it at all. It's clearly a very serviceable cRPG, where a lot of dedicated people have clearly spent a lot of time translating the tabletop experience into a computer game. However, they achieved this by focusing almost exclusively on the mechanical basis of the game, and not really the human interaction of tabletop RPGs that what makes then what they are.
Don't get me wrong those mechanics are perfectly serviceable, and I can see why the people that love this game do so, but from my perspective just lacked any empathy for me to feel anything for the character I had created or the other characters I was playing with in the game and I just gave up. If you like experimenting with character min/mas builds then this is the RPG for you. However if you prefer some storytelling and character interaction to keep you involved, this one is probably going to disappoint you quite badly
Galactic Civilizations 3
Again, a mechanically serviceable space 4x that does everything competently and well, but just completely failed to spark into life for me. And to be honest that's all there really is to say about it, which is sort of the problem. Space 4x's are ten a penny these days, you've got to be doing something to standout a little and there was nothing here that did that for me.
The one that was my favourite but I'm not ranking because it's early access:
Baldurs Gate 3
As I type this I still cannot believe I've spent over 90 hours - 90 Hours! - just playing through this first slice of the game that Larian have made. Yes, it's a Baldurs Gate 3 game based in the Baldur's Gate world but using all of the Divinity: Original Sin series mechanics, but my word have Larian made that work. They've toned down the worst excesses of the D:OS system (no, not everything is quite on fire all the time), married those mechanics almost perfectly with the core D&D systems, and backed it up with a motely collection of NPC party members who are joy to watch interact with both you and each other a nd a story steeped in D&D lore. So much lore that I've spent very nerdy hours on the internet finding out just what that lore is so I understand what's going on a little better!
Larian are taking their time and also clearly listening to all the commentary and feedback they get over this game as they continue to develop it. I would willing play just this slice of early access over a lot of the other, finished games in my list this year. I can only hope it carries on to live up to it's potential when it reaches full release next year.
1. Disco Elysium
2. Hades
3. Breath of the Wild
4. Noita
5. Armello
6. Titanfall 2
7. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe
8. Super Smash Bros. Melee
9. Elder Scrolls Online
10. Untitled Goose Game
Guess who got a Switch this year Gaming was a real mixed bag this year with some super highs, some big disappointments, and long, weird doldrums in between. I really started leaning into board games and TTRPGs after the lockdowns here opened up and parental duties allowed, and my interest in the videogames waned considerably even though I waded through about a quarter of the year unemployed. I did get a Switch as a combined Christmas/birthday present at the start of the year and Breath of the Wild was everything everyone was saying it was, so I was wrapped up in that pre-CoVID but then I finally started Disco Elysium on a whim one afternoon and could. not. stop. Hands down the best CRPG I've ever experienced in a long and storied history of playing them. My contract at the time was given the CoVID treatment almost as soon as I finished DE, so I went on the hunt for something to fill the spaces in the MMORPG space, a place I swore never to touch again after I broke the WoW spell back in 2012. After pinging off a few I settled with ESO thanks to a group of three friends who were all keen as well, so we made our way to max level and I had a good ol' time getting there. I realised as one of the crew started getting more seriously involved that this was not where I wanted to go, so I bowed back out and dabbled with a bunch of indies, loving Noita, Armello and Goose Game the most out of what I toyed with. Titanfall 2 was also a super solid time and finally hit my radar with the deluge of EA titles that finally hit Steam this year. Throughout the year I also enjoyed playing Super Smash and Mario Kart with my family on the couch, although neither was quite what I was yearning for from my 64 days but I think I've finally learned that you never really can go back
Oh, and I had surgery in the back half of the year where I played Hades obsessively while I was laid up which is a truly excellent game that deserves all of the attention and accolades it got!
For the second year in a row, there have been no games that grabbed me by the heart and shook me to my soul. I’ve had a bunch of good gaming experiences, though. I need to look at a list of what I’ve actually played.
Just the list this year.
This is shaping up to be a strange one, because I feel like I have four or five perfectly fine GotY contenders that I have reasons to give the top spot, and yet reasons to not give the top spot, and therefore it's like a big huge tie.
Never had this in prior years.
This is shaping up to be a strange one, because I feel like I have four or five perfectly fine GotY contenders that I have reasons to give the top spot, and yet reasons to not give the top spot, and therefore it's like a big huge tie.
Never had this in prior years.
Pick whichever waifu you liked the best!
If thirstiness was the primary variable for assembling this list, this would be at #1.
What does this mean Jonman? (Hades) Great list by the way!
My family moved over the summer into a larger home than we've ever had before, and my wife was happy to let me move all my hobby-related stuff into the finished basement (Home theater! Brewing equipment and beer on tap! Pool table! Home gym!). We gave our son the PS4 and XB1 for use in his room, and we haven’t been successful in finding a PS5 or XBX yet, so consoles are conspicuously absent from this set up. As a result, I played nearly everything on my list this year via streaming service, sitting on a big comfy leather couch in my subterranean lair. So freaking nice. I still played a few games directly on my PC, but none that are new to me this year. I’ve been really impressed with both Stadia (via Chromecast Ultra) and GeForce Now (via Nvidia Shield TV), though the latter can be kind of a pain without a keyboard/mouse when it sometimes signs me out of Steam/Uplay/Epic. While one of the games I started last year got the lion’s share of my time this year (see Honorable Mentions below), I got in some quality time with several other games. I got in exactly 10 new-to-me games this year.
Top Ten
1. Cyberpunk 2077 (Stadia)
I really don’t think this is new-shiny-thing bias. Cyberpunk 2077 is just a great game. Beautiful graphics (though I understand this varies on Stadia depending on your hardware’s ability to decode vp9—it’s amazing on a 4K HDR set through Chromecast) and intricately detailed world. I’m just starting to get a sense of how very large it is. The setting itself is the star here, with an unimaginable number of stories to be told. CDPR is showing that they know how to do that, no Geralt necessary. I will still be playing this when it’s time to put together next year’s list.
2. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (Stadia)
The most “videogamey” of the video games I played this year, in that it’s very faithful to the explore + puzzle solve + fight + cut scene + repeat structure and pacing, and never tries to be anything other than what it is. It’s not immersive like some of the other games on my list, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s a formula that works, and it’s Star Wars. Just plain fun.
3. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla (Stadia)
I’m a little hesitant to put AC Valhalla this high on my list, and maybe it’s based more on the promise of what I’ve seen so far than on the actual experience. It’s no slouch in the graphics department, and the occasional screenshots I see online of varied locations make me think I’ll settle into it soon. So far though, I’m only a few hours in, and it’s a bunch of assholes tromping around in the snow. No one is likeable, not even the main character. Kassandra has her thumb on the scale for this one though, so I’ll tentatively put it as my #3.
4. The Last of Us 2 (PS4)
Great gameplay, graphics, and atmosphere of tension, just like the first game. I’m not sure how far along in the story I am—several hours--, and I find that the senselessness of all the violence is starting to wear on me. It’s not that I have an issue with video game violence in general; it’s that the game is clearly trying to tell a story with emotional heft, and the kill-them-all focus isn’t enough to carry it. Maybe I’m not far enough into the game. It’s not yet clear what the NPC motivations are, and so far the main character’s sole motivation is revenge. Surely it has to be deeper than this?
5. A Plague Tale: Innocence (GeForce Now)
Wonderfully acted and gut-wrenchingly depressing (and really gruesome in some parts). Looks terrific, and the main characters are endearing. I tend to get hung up on some sequences that end up having an obvious solution, but it’s fun enough that I do expect to finish it.
6. Control (GeForce Now)
The only really frustrating experience I’ve had with GFN. After several hours of playing, including a couple of very difficult fights, I logged in to GFN and inadvertently selected “local save” instead of “cloud save.” No saves on the Nvidia Shield TV, and selecting that wiped out my cloud saves. I can’t bring myself to start over just yet, but I had a lot of fun with the hours I got in. Being able to destroy/weaponize your surroundings is a great mechanic.
7. Disco Elysium (PC)
I get what all the hype has been about. In its bizarre subject matter and approach, executed with utter confidence that people LOVE to read lots of text in video games (I really do, I’m the target demographic), I’ve been savoring this one. It’s intense, so I tend to play in small chunks. I bet with some more hours under my belt, I'd have ranked this higher. I won't get those hours in this year because Cyberpunk 2077 has hijacked my neural network.
8. Sniper Elite 4 (Stadia)
Juvenile gore elements aside, this is a fun game. Nice balance of letting you take advantage of a good sniper position while making sure you do not forget the importance of staying on the move in enemy territory. I like the use of sound as a type of cover that can help you use a spot longer without revealing your position, really clever.
9. The Division 2 (GeForce Now)
Good looking game, even if it does give off the infinite treadmill vibe of an MMO. It tries pretty hard to entice you into playing with others. Team-based multiplayer just doesn’t fit my life right now; I need to be able to pause a game at a moment’s notice without knowing if I’ll be back in five minutes or five hours. Or five days. But it does seem like a fun experience for people who do get together to play. Fun enough solo in short sessions.
10. Death Stranding (GeForce Now)
What the hell is going on?
Honorable Mentions
Baldur’s Gate 3 (Stadia)
I intentionally did not play enough of this game to get a good sense of it. I preordered because I think Larian has been putting out some great stuff, and I want to support them. I used the character creation tool a bunch of times, which was satisfying. There’s so much goodness here that I’m just going to wait for the full release to play it.
Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (Stadia)
I didn’t put this on my top 10 because I had played it enough last year to put it on that list. I played waaay more of it this year, 150 hours with all of the DLCs—it was my pandemic quarantine comfort food, a pure escape from stress. Beautiful and very immersive (immersive is unrelated to realistic in my mind—running around on a rainbow unicorn is awesome), to the point that I could go a couple hours without even thinking about making a save point. Important quest? Hang on, here’s a massive fortress full of hostiles. Shall I slowly work my way through, stealth killing every single person inside? Or just walk through the front gate and start kicking ass?
Red Dead Redemption 2 (Stadia)
Played for the first time in 2018 on PS4, and it just didn’t click for me. For some reason, it does now, and the graphics are much better than they were on the PS4 Pro. If I stick to the main story, I may not get burned out on it.
If thirstiness was the primary variable for assembling this list, this would be at #1.What does this mean Jonman? (Hades) Great list by the way!
Well, when one Greek god loves another very much.....
Oh! I had no idea.
Well, here's my list for 2020.
10. Headlander
A Metroid-like with psychedelic 60's retro scifi aesthetics from Double Fine? Where do I sign up! This was nice, addictive fun, and just about the right amount of time as far as the game's completion. The humor was pretty good, too.
9. Resident Evil 3 Remake
The original RE3 is still my favorite of them all, and I had high hopes for this remake. While it didn't disappoint me, it certain could have done so much more. In a year where I've played about a hundred games, and beaten about half that number, this game still managed to be one of the best games I had the pleasure of completing. The remake is different enough to where it really is a different game all together.
8. Control
This Lynch-lite, X-Files-but-not-quite gem of a game had me hooked from the moment I began playing it. Months later, when all the DLC dropped, I dove back in and had me a hell of a time, once again. I can't wait to see what comes next in the Control/Wake-verse.
7. Resident Evil 2 Remake
I waiting a good, long time to actually start this one, but boy was it worth it. A complet overhaul of the original, and it ended up being my second favorite RE game ever, now that the dust has settled.
6. Forgotton Anne
Anime charm that evokes Tezuka and Ghibli. Puzzle platforming that recalls the original Prince of Persia. A story that, although somewhat predictable, is still enjoyable. A wonderful cast of characters that I genuinely ended up caring for. This was one I will not soon forgot.
5. The Witcher 3
Simply amazing, as far as the world that was crafted for this game. The quests, the stories... I enjoyed this game so very much. So much so, though, that I honestly could do without a Witcher 4 and be fine and content.
4.Little Nightmares
Creepy, scary little girl escapes a horror filled gauntlet. There's plenty of social critique in here, if you want to dig at those layers, but the puzzle platforming and atmosphere are what truly made this one special for me.
3. Final Fantasy VII Remake
They really should have appended a "Part 1" to the title of this one. What an amazing new take of a classic. The only reason why it isn't my number 1 this year is because the combat, while enjoyable, did not agree with me as mach as I had hoped. The changes in the story, though, that was something that I did not see coming, but am so glad they took those liberties.
2. Inmost
I'd had this game on my wishlist for a few years. The moment it finally released, I snatched it up and ate through it in two sittings. The story is intimate and poignant. The atmosphere, the design, the music, it all makes such a wonderful yet melancholy world to inhabit... This puzzle platformer really resonated with me.
1. The Last Campfire
It's short, sure, and relatively easy if you did puzzle games, but the themes and subjects it covers,and the way they are presented, are what made this the clear victor this year, for me. Can't recommend this game enough.
Honorable Metions:
Link’s Awakening (Switch)
It’s a remake but it’s exactly the same game I played on the OG Gameboy. For that reason, I cannot count it in the top ten. It is, nevertheless, one of the best gaming experiences I had in 2020.
South Park: The Fractured but Whole (Multi)
I really enjoyed the game, but ended up feeling like it had a longer run time than it really needed. Still, I went through the DLC and still found laugh-out-loud moments. Wouldn’t be opposed to a new game in the South Park universe… But what could they go for next?
#1 is definitely Blaseball, but I need some time to write up the rest.
I didn't set out to pick out 10 tops for my list of 2020 but it just worked out that way. Most of these titles were left unfinished, perhaps with a lone exception (Martyr) and a few I am still actively playing. It's just another year in a long-running series of my alternating between seemingly never having enough time to play games while also developing an increasingly low tolerance for b.s.. I also finding myself adding more mobile games to my diet as the years go on. Perhaps a sign of the times and an indication of my changing tastes as I get older.
1. Warhammer 40,000 Gladius: Relics of War
2. Call of Duty Mobile
3. Dragon Quest XI
4. Warhammer 40,000 Inquisitor: Martyr (PS4)
5. Neverwinter
6. Archero
7. Dusk
8. Nioh 2
9. Synthetik: Legion Rising
10. Grimvalor
W40K Gladius: Relics of War
Gladius may be the closest thing to a turn-based real-time strategy game out there. At first blush the pedigree appears to be squarely Civilization as opposed to Red Alert. Allow this game to get its hooks into you, however, and it becomes very apparent how Slitherine has skillfully and ingeniously cut out all the bothersome fat from your standard, ponderous 4X formula and fine-tuned the gameplay to appease the war-mongering general in all of us.You can call it shallow. You can accuse it of being expensive for the slimness of the core game and for the high asking price of its various DLCs and expansions. You could even call it a one-trick, fan-service pony for W40 fans desperate for a decent digital representation of their hobby. I may have even thought some of these same things to myself. But if there's one thing I couldn't do, it was to put Gladius down. It stands as one of my most played games this year.
Call of Duty Mobile
Hugely successful, massively bombastic, disgustingly crass and commercial. Yes, CoD Mobile is probably every bad thing you assumed it to be when it first released in the fall of 2019. Would you also be surprised to learn that it's incredibly fun and polished and harkens back to some of the good ol' day nostalgia of the Modern Warfare console era? The big indifference here is platform and technology, trading in your gamepad (optionally, mind you) for touchscreens and playing not so much an annual iteration's worth of new content but rather a continually updating "greatest hits" homage to the best the modern CoD franchise has offered over the last decade and change.One of the great ironies of this F2P, "watered-down" version of CoD is how little pay-to-win is on display. Offers and chase prizes are largely cosmetic and this game features one of the most engaging and consumer-friendly versions of a battle pass that I've ever come across. Not to mention the first battle royal mode I got hooked into playing more than once before throwing it away in disgust. For a game in your pocket that attempts to do it all, CoD Mobile somehow defies the odds and manages to over-deliver on all fronts.
Dragon Quest XI
DQXI is pure, unbridled nostalgia. It is old school, it is charming and it is a big, long game. I could be 1/10 into the campaign and will likely never finish it but I very much appreciate the trip down memory lane, of being reminded of simpler times and simpler pleasures.
Warhammer 40,000 Inquisitor: Martyr (PS4)
Martyr is a fairly mediocre Diablo clone trading on the popularity of its license and a pretty unlikely double-dipping candidate. But double-dip I did. I had long put away the PC version and its lackluster performance on the laptop. The title found a new lease on life on my television set. The graphics still weren't that much better but the framerate was. The gameplay? Pretty much the same and with an even smaller player base to share tips and Cabals with. What I appreciate about most about Martyr, more than its loot or skill systems (both of which are just fine), is its love of the Warhammer 40K universe. The fan service is off the charts and I would say it even eclipses that of Gladius.
Neverwinter
Every so often I get myself hooked on a random MMO for a month or two.
Archero
It feels like this was developed by gamers who felt dissatisfied or insulted by Diablo and other ARPGs for simply featuring any other archetype besides the archer. Archero is not only a love-letter to bow-lovers, it's a cleverly designed F2P throwback to arcade coin cobblers and old-school dungeon crawls...AND roguelites AND diablo-style loot games. There is an energy system and gachas and prize wheels but I can set you at ease by saying none of these things should make you feel gross about playing. The core mechanics are elegance in motion, the power ups are super satisfying to acquire, to use in combat and mix & match differently for each new run. The downside is that the game does get incredibly difficult and there lies the temptation to click on a button that your wallet may soon regret that you pushed. But if you can stave off the blues of defeat and keep yourself in check, Archero is a wonderful surprise and will sure to become your new best friend on your daily commutes.
Dusk
I fell into Dusk's arms after rapidly coming down from my Doom Eternal high. The game pretty much delivered on the crazy positive Steam reviews and I don't begrudge its blocky graphics and old school sensibilities. Rule #1 of making a good arena/arcade FPS: Have a great shotgun!
Nioh 2
I've barely put any time into this one so it almost feels like cheating that it's even on the list. Nioh 1 was superlative and a true return to form for Team Ninja. It easily made top spot on my 2017 Community GOTY post. I was hyped for Nioh 2 but when the public betas rolled around I was in a different gamer headspace and didn't feel like having a game constantly kick me in the nut sack. I had also finished pouring dozens of hours into an aborted NG+ run of the original, so you could say I was rightly Nioh'd out. March rolled around, bringing with it the Covid-19 lockdown, which probably did the rest of the work of spoiling what should have been the joyous release of Nioh 2.I passed on it until recently during a Black Friday sale. I'm slowly finding my sea legs again but I'm fairly confident when I say I'm back on the team. It is your classic More Of The Same sequel and that is a bit of a rare find these days. The novelty of a "Team Ninja Soulslike" is long gone so time will tell if this installment can reach the same heights as its predecessor.
Synthetik: Legion Rising
I try not to put too much stock in popular opinion but I can't say it was anything but the Overwhelmingly Positive Steam reviews this game had garnered (plus a nice 50% discount) that convinced me to pull the trigger on this little-talked about indie game. Synthetik is yet another roguelite and at first looks like it will be an arcadey twin-stick shooter. It actually has more in common with Origin's Crusader series, with a touch of Castle Wolfenstein and Gears of War mixed in for good measure. The game was developed using GameMaker and boy howdy do they show off their prowess with that engine. It approaches Vlambeer-level of GameMaker game-feel expertise. It's a shame how other distractions have pulled me away from this (and other PC M/KB action games) as of late. I look forward to headshotting more pixelated fools during the holiday break.
Grimvalor
Yet another mobile game rounds out the list of this year's best. I'm almost reluctant to give the elevator pitch for Grimvalor because... it's so boring to do it. It's a Metroidvania Soulslike with this and that and blah blah blah. Surely, the game is derivative as all hell. But I think it's worth reminding us that sometimes video games isn't always about originality. Actually, when it comes right down to, originality barely factors into my most cherished video game memories if I'm being completely honest. Sometimes all you need is picture-perfect execution. Grimvalor is a text on what it means to execute like a champion and to do it on touchscreen no less!
And the list that nobody asked for but I offer it as a going away present anyway...
My Top Disappointments of 2020:
Doom Eternal
Control
Othercide
Borderlands 3
Fallout 4
Good thing you put a reminder in the 2019 thread, Eleima! I didn't keep my New Year's resolution of keeping track of games I played across platforms and game stores, so this might take a while. It won't be a full list either, as I spent the first months finishing my 2019 GOTY, then surviving lockdown while schools were closed, and played Baldur's Gate: EE for the last 2 months.
When the UK went into lockdown in March I made a conscious effort to stop playing my "forever" games and play some new things. So, I had a reasonable selection of new things to choose from this year. I did eventually return to some of my old favourites later in the year though!
1. Hades
2. Factorio
3. Mutazione
4. Spiritfarer
5. A Plague Tale : Innocence
6. Supraland
7. Noita
8. Signs of the Sojourner
9. Gears tactics
10. Black Mesa
I love looking at other's lists because I tend to forget what I played during the year!
My list
1. Final Fantasy 7: Remake
Took me awhile to get used to the new combat - and I am shocked anew on my second playthrough of how much padding they added but I am doing a second playthrough which I think means I really like it.
2. Ghost of Tsushima
A fun little gem. It is short enough to not outstay its welcome but with enough character that I felt invested in the story. Their writers can't create poetry though.
3. Immortals: Fenix Rising
It is charming and I am really loving it. I just hope it doesn't go on to long. Sometimes they throw so much into a game rather than keep it shorter and more focused.
4. Spider-Man Miles Morales
Perhaps more of an expansion but I think there are enough new things to warrant a spot.
5. Yakuza: Like a Dragon
Only scratched the surface on this but it feels great.
The reason for #1 and #2 spots is those are actually the only ones on my list I have finished! I am just assuming that means I really liked them.
Commentary to come, but here's my list so far. The ranking will likely remain the same.
My Top 10 (sort of) for 2020
1. Baldur's Gate Series (BG1, BG: TotSC, BG: SoD, BG2: SoA, BG2: ToB)
From the time I started the series in the 90s to today, this series has remained at the top of my all time favorite games. After over a decade of procrastination I decided to give the entire series not one but two separate simultaneous runs. The looming release of Baldur's Gate 3 made me realize now's the time to reconnect with some old friends.
...and it did not disappoint. Yes the game has aged, but it has aged well. My old friends Jaheira, Viconia, Aerie, Khalid, Minsc and of course Boo were there waiting. Every time I ran into them again a smile crossed my face. And even now I've continued to discover new stories in the game, especially with the extended edition content. After all this time, the series continues to hold a place in my heart.
2. Spiritfarer
A few months ago I had never heard of this game, but I happened upon it after reading an article on PC Gamer. I won't press the point but in short, this is a game about reconciling with death. I lost both of my parents this autumn (more here if you want the details but I won't belabor the point), and this game was a beautiful piece of therapy. It might not be the best game of the year for me, but it absolutely was the most important one for me.
3. Star Wars: Battlefront II
This game was a shameless PRODUCT(TM) of EA and Star Wars, but what a product it was. Not only a fantastic dogfighting and FPS game, but a wonderful piece of content and story that linked the old and the new Star Wars movies and characters together seamlessly. Iden Versio was a wonderful edition to the canon, and it showed just like the Mandalorian that the new and old stories of Star Wars can live together in harmony.
4. Kentucky Route Zero
What can you say about the Zero? I basically explained my experience with it here and after all this time I still haven't come to terms with it, and I mean that in a good way. KyRt0 is a beautiful amazing oddity that could live anywhere on this list. At the top, at the bottom, or just happily wandering it's way up and down the list. You can't pin down the Zero, and you shouldn't. It defies definition. Just play it, and enjoy the ride.
5. WoW: Shadowlands
Unlike the majority of folks, I liked Battle for Azeroth quite a bit. But I have to say I am enjoying Shadowlands even more. I enjoy the choices, story beats, how the characters evolve, and the game does a great job of making your character feel unique and special again, and not just another pawn on the chess set. I'm still amazed I'm playing WoW after all these years but kudos to Blizzard from continuing to evolve the story, gameplay, and lore
6. Journey
I waited years to hop into Journey, and when I did it was an empty landscape. I didn't run into a single other character, and looking back I think that made the experience better, more personal. This game was a minor meditative/spiritual experience. It told an entire story without a single line of dialogue or never seeing the character's face (interesting tidbit - a lot of the NPCs in Spiritfarer look just like the Journey pilgrim. It was almost as if they were part of the same universe, and it would have fit). Special shout out BTW to the contemplative music and artwork. This is less of a game and more moving art.
7. Dawn of Man
This is a setting I've always wanted to play. A game set in prehistory focused on a single tribe trying to eke out a living in the wilderness. It was everything I hoped for. At times the game was a bit too methodical for its own good, but when I was looking for a game that provided slow, steady progress over time that allowed me to just nudge my tribe here and there to help them figure out how to survive and thrive, this game filled that niche perfectly.
8. A Legionary's Life
Yet another game that had never heard of but was happy to stumble across. It's a simple game of joining a Roman legion and trying to find a way to survive and thrive as a soldier during the Punic Wars. The game was simple in execution yet addicting and entertaining.
9. The Stanley Parable
Combine Groundhog Day with Office Space and Lost, and you'll start to get an idea of what this game is about. It made no sense. it didn't have to. All I know is I don't know who had a harder time. Stanley or the hilarious narrator. I still have no idea if I finished the game or not.
10. XCOM: Chimera Squad
I originally had Crusader Kings 3 here, but even at around 30 hours I haven't given CK3 enough time to honestly rank it on the list, and CK3 is a game the more you play it the higher it should rank, so I took it off the list out of respect for the game and the expectation it will rank much higher at the end of 2021.
Chimera Squad, however, was another unexpected delight when I started 2020 (the first of very, very few in this crazy year). But when Firaxis drops a quick message stating "Hey we came up with a new XCOM2 pseudo-sequel, it's good, it's cheap, and it's out in a week, you pay attention. This was just such a fun, delightful treat that came out of nowhere. Was it perfect? No. Was it in XCOM2's league? Nope. Was it a fun time? Absolutely!
Just missed the list because I haven't played them enough or they were simply very good games:
11. Crusader Kings 3
12. Cyberpunk 2077
13. Pillars of Eternity
13.5 (too lazy to renumber) Hades
These 3 (and a half!) have impressed me so far, but I'm nowhere near finished or near a "complete state" with them. With that said, they deserve an Honorable Mention and the expectation that they will make the list next year. Cyberpunk 2077 is amazing, BTW. I've been fortunate that the only bug I've encountered are some flickering trees, but the game, while not hitting the heights of The WItcher 3, is still "breathtaking" already. I can't wait to dive in more. I just started playing Hades on 12/30. It's fun and I love the mechanics and banter between the characters. It would definitely make my Top 10 list but right now it feels like Bastion and Children of Morta had a kid.
14. Euro Truck Simulator 2
15. Middle Earth: Shadow of Mordor
16. A Bird Story
17. Sigma Theory: Global Cold War
All fun, enjoyable times. ETS2 is not a Zen experience. I get nervous making sure my rig is making good time, and forget about parking that rig at a depot (thank God for automatic parking), but what other game is going to let me deliver flowers from Bari to Naples? Middle Earth's nemesis system is a work of genius that bound me to the game and the need to end those bastards. A Bird Story was a quick, enjoyable title from the To the Moon folks, an Sigma Theory was a Spy Game with great mechanics, a ridiculous plot, and a worthwhile 15-20 hours.
I also played these and they were good:
18. Tropico 5
19. Halo 2
20. Halo: Reach
21. Halo: CE
22. Flix & Chill
23. Genshin Impact
Good times all around here, but most of these are the TGI Friday's of titles - you know exactly what you are going to get. Flix & Chill was a fast distraction for a couple of hours, and while I can appreciate Genshin Impact, that game is justnot for me.
Games that would make the list in previous years but I've basically played the heck out of these already and included them in prior GOTY lists:
24. XCOM2: WOTC
25. Star Wars: The Old Republic
26. Crusader Kings 2
27. Stellaris
Some other games I played
28. Imperator: Rome
29. March of the Living
30. John Wick: Hex
31. Invisible Inc.
32. Borderlands
Best Story: Other than the Baldur's Gate series which has been disqualified since it would win every year, I guess I have to go with Kentucky Route Zero, even though if you asked me to explain the story I would have no idea how to do so.
Best Moment of the year: A few here. Seeing Cyberpunk 2077 get released and (for me luckily) living up to the experience. Watching Baldur's Gate 3 get released and hearing it's great (I'm holding off on it for now). Discovering Crusader Kings 3 lives up to the hype. Building Stonehenge in Dawn of Man. Having My Legionary survive a Greek phalanx to end his career. And of course flying the DANK FARRIK MILENNIUM FALCON. But if I had to pick one, it would be every time I said goodbye to a character at the Everdoor in Spiritfarer. It was poignant every time.
Best Sound: I mean the Star Wars(TM) Battlefront(TM) sounds are timeless, but there was just something so esoteric and pleasing about Journey that it deserves the recognition here.
Best Music: Kentucky Route Zero. Look I'm from New York. I'm about as far from bluegrass as you can get, but the music in this game was just so beautiful, foreign, almost alien. And it worked. Special shout out to the following song which is my Song of the Year.
Best Graphics: Cyberpunk 2077. Star Wars(TM) Battlefront(TM) is beautiful and would have taken the title any other year, but the minute I started Cyberpunk with legitimate ray tracing, I knew this game was going to be dessert for my eyes every minute the game was on.
Best new character of the year: Iden Versio. What a wonderful character who deserved even more in the SW Universe. Hopefully she'll get a chance in the Mandalorian or other Star Wars titles.
Best old character of the year: Minsc. The minute I ran into him in Baldur's Gate, it was like running into an old friend you haven't seen in years. Because that is exactly what happened.
Best surprise of the year: This:
I actually started to get a bit watery eyed.
Thanks all. Here's to a better year in 2021 for all of us, gaming or otherwise.
Dropping my list in here now so I don't forget while trying to craft a cool post. This is my first time getting votes down in years.
1) Outer Wilds (PC 2019)
This game grabbed me and absolutely wouldn't let go. The space physics, the story, the open world (solar system?) puzzle to slowly piece together. The beautiful musical and character details that tie everything together. One of those games that I finished and just sat watching the screen and digesting everything that had happened.
2) Hades (Switch 2020)
Switch was a perfect platform for this. Very well crafted and fine tuned to make it easy to pick up, put down, make constant incremental progress and enjoy every step. I'm among those who stretched into 35+ runs before beating the final boss for the first time. I want to keep making more runs so that I can see each new conversation and me getting better with each weapon / god boon was a great way to fill the time as I hunt.
3) Subnautica (PC 2018)
This had been in my library for a couple years, I booted it up and my 5yr old son started watching me play and this quickly turned into a father-son activity that spanned a few weeks as I hunted down everything I needed to continue. Minor quibbles on a couple required things being hidden with next to no cluing on where to look, but otherwise the story and world were incredibly engaging and a wonderful way to spend time with my kid.
4) Ori and the will of the wisps (Xbox 2020)
This is a great game on it's own and I'm now realizing that half my list is full of games I play with my son watching or playing with me. I loved Ori and the Blind Forest and everything I liked about that returns here while still being new and different and exciting.
5) Return of the Obra Dinn (Switch 2019)
This came out of nowhere for me. After seeing it praised in a few places I picked it up and fell deeply in love with it's style and storytelling. It's been long enough since I've played that I'm completing a second run now. That's the beauty of this game, it's all about untangling a complex web of events and relationships that's far too complicated to keep in your head and uses a beautifully organized journal to walk you through it as you view each scene. Coming back to it fresh there's very little I would remember off hand other than a vague sense of already knowing what to focus on in a memory.
6) Yoshi's Crafted World (Switch 2019)
Continuing the theme of playing games with my son, we had an absolute blast playing this game. Co-op mode on easy is custom made for exactly this kind of scenario. You can always have someone ride on the other and carry them through a tough section or get infinite ammo for an egg throwing challenge. The levels are charming and pretty. Everything about playing this was fun, I recommend for any family.
7) Picross 3 (Switch 2019)
This is a bit of a placeholder, since I'm mainlined several Picross games this year. This game has helped me wind down and turn off my brain many nights and it's reaching crossword / sudoku level of comforting daily or weekly puzzling.
8) Nintendo Labo (Switch 2018)
We got this on one of the deep sales this year and folding the cardboard into the vehicle controls with my son and then watching him (and often myself) cackling while exploring the world they made and each little task or secret they set aside was a ton of fun. The game itself is probably about as generic as you can get mechanically but between building the controls yourself and seeing my son enjoy exploring the world it is a real favorite.
9) Just Dance 2020 (Switch 2019)
We grabbed this right around the time COVID really ramped up. Gave our whole family a great activity to do together and hits on a number of things we enjoy (physical activity, music, no barriers to everyone playing together).
10) Agent A (Switch 2019)
This spot was hard to pick. Agent A wins it for being an engaging experience with good puzzles and being a decent length for this type of game. Pleasantly surprised after buying it on sale and starving for escape room style puzzles as my wife and I couldn't head out on our regular escape room date nights.
Honorable Mentions:
Pokemon Sun and Moon (PC Emulation) - My son is getting the whole family back into Pokemon and I've been really excited by the trend of using mods to randomize the pokemon (and potentially movesets and evolutions, etc). Really freshens up the whole experience and brings back some of the wonder. And my son watches a lot of Poketips Mike and frequently asks me to play so he can watch.
Chess Sudoku (Mobile 2020) - One viral youtube sudoku video and my love for sudoku reemerged with a vengeance. This whole concept of Chess Sudoku, Thermometer Sudoku, Miracle Sudoku helps keep my brain excited and working rather than just falling into a rut of brute force solving each puzzle through the same steps and rules.
10) Agent A (Switch 2019)
This spot was hard to pick. Agent A wins it for being an engaging experience with good puzzles and being a decent length for this type of game. Pleasantly surprised after buying it on sale and starving for escape room style puzzles as my wife and I couldn't head out on our regular escape room date nights.
I need to get back to that one. When I played through it, the final chapter had yet to be released. I assume by now the story is complete...
Seems like all platforms should have had the complete game as of August 29, 2019. If you were playing on Android or iOS you should have received the last chapter as a free update.
I was planning on waiting until the very last day but now I'm worried I'll forget to post, so here is my list. I played a ton of really good games this year.
1. Lair of the Clockwork God
LotCG is a game that I played with a smile on my face from beginning to end. The humor in this game is just superb, and I’m not sure any other videogame ever made me laugh this much. The combination of platformer and point-and-click adventure is very original and works really well, especially because the way the two genres are combined into the game (through one playable character having platforming skills and the other one having point-and-click skills) is a piece of the puzzles in itself.
2. Hades
I don’t think I have much to say about Hades that hasn’t already been said, but I am still amazed at how I just could not put it down for such a long time. The story was so captivating and I loved exploring the relationships between all of the characters. The difficulty balance ended up feeling just right for me, in terms of a good challenge that it took me a while to beat, but where I could see myself slowly getting better in each run. This may also be my favorite soundtrack of any game I’ve played.
3. art of rally
art of rally is an ode to the history of motorsports. It’s still an arcade racing game, but with driving physics that feel really good. It’s a great looking game with one of the best, if not the best, photo/replay modes of any game. This game is also a testament for why devs sometimes need to stick to their guns and their vision of the game when they get some critical feedback. After the demo came out, the devs reaffirmed their choice of not having pace notes (which every other rally game has) and not featuring a classic chase cam that is close to the car. They did listen to feedback about the camera and improved the range of settings a fair amount. I think the final product proved them right.
4. A Monster’s Expedition (Through Puzzling Exhibitions)
I’m a big fan of block-pushing puzzle games and this one is really special. Not just because of how cute it is, but because of how approachable it is while still presenting a serious challenge if you attempt to discover its secrets. It’s just amazing how much depth and mechanics Draknek added by making the blocks you push be a cylinder (a log) and thinking about how it would roll differently if it’s pushed one way or the other, or onto another object, and so on.
5. Monster Train
Just like Hades, I’m really surprised at how much Monster Train I played. The pandemic helped, but still. It took me a couple of attempts to get into it, but then I really enjoyed playing with all the different clans and champions. The update that added new champions and modifiers really revitalized the game too. In terms of design, I liked that the game combines a classic deck builder roguelite with a bit of a tactical turn-based combat thanks to the way the character cards can move up and down the train, as well as switch places within the same floor.
6. Astrologaster
If LotCG is the game that made me laugh the most, Astrologaster is probably second. This is a hilarious adventure, loosely based on a real story. The voice acting and singing (yes, singing) are fantastic.
7. Paradise Killer
A Danganronpa-style murder mystery game. The investigation is more "free-form" in the sense that you are solving one big case and you roam free through an island uncovering clues and testimony. I thought it was really good, fun to play, great art, and a lot of character. The fact that you can proceed to the trial at any point in time, with whatever evidence you have, and the way the trial develops, which I will not spoil here, are an excellent final touch.
8. Dicey Dungeons
I’m kind of surprised that I have two deckbuilding roguelites on my list. Well, DD is more of a roguelikes but I’m not gonna go there. In any case, the best thing about DD is how it makes you embrace the RNG as an integral part of the game. The entire art design is fantastic, and although I enjoyed some playable characters more than others, the variety in play styles and strategies is great. It was super satisfying to see the endgame screen on this one.
9. Necrobarista
A really cool visual novel with a little word minigame thrown in for good measure. The art direction is incredible, the game looks stunning and the soundtrack is a blast. The story is very powerful but it will make you think about death a lot.
10. Deep Rock Galactic
My favorite co-op game of the year. I enjoyed this one a lot thanks to playing other gwjers. The synergies between the classes make it really fun to play. The dialogue and the spaceship have a lot of funny bits. And there’s a really nice variety of missions and upgrades to keep you going.
I also need to post some Honorable Mentions:
11. MO: Astray: Awesome puzzle and action platformer. I struggled to leave it out of the top 10.
12. The Pedestrian: Another great puzzle platformer, much more focused on the puzzles, and with a great ending.
13. Kentucky Route Zero: An amazing narrative experience. Chapter 4, the theater interlude, and the phone call interlude were just amazing.
14. Journey to the Savage Planet: Great first-person platformer exploration game, really funny, but with meh combat.
15. Puddle Knights: A really original and polished take on the block-pushing puzzle game.
16. Evan's Remains: Wonderful yet short puzzle platformer with an interesting story.
17. A Short Hike: Super cute exploration game. Incredibly relaxing.
18. Tametsi: Minesweeper on steroids, and you never have to guess.
19. Signs of the Sojourner: An endearing deckbuilder where your cards are feelings or moods instead of powers, and it’s all about the relationships with the characters that you encounter.
20. Carto: A really cute story with a clever mechanic where your map is a puzzle in itself, so you can shape the world around you.
And last but not least, my disappointments of the year:
JUST KIDDING!
Alright, I have managed to remember 10 games that were new for me this year, so let's sort them...
10. GTFO
Tactical coop first person "shooter" where if you shoot on a bad spot, you are most likely dead. Coop here is crucial and good team of at least two people (four is always better, definitely on lower levels) on voice as well.
In the game, you are a bunch of prisoners sent down into a sort of labyrinth infested with monsters to do various tasks (and come back to the pick up point). The key element here is darkness and tension from trying not to get attention of the surrounding monsters sooner than you are ready to fight them. Developers build the levels for a time period and after that a new set of levels with different environments and hazards is released, making this fresh in the long run. Only played several runs with a friend (it is intense!), but this is definitely a game I want to play more of.
9. Outer Wilds
Wanted to love this more than I actually did. It kept me and my son occupied for about two gaming days when we kept exploring and figuring out what is happening, but then after that, we kind of lost momentum and forgot to finish the whole story. Maybe we will come back to it.
8. The Division 2
I played bunch of Division 1 in the past, but was never running very smooth on my PC, so when I got into GeForceNow streaming, I bought this and it was a great experience. I still prefer the environments and an overall darker winter feel of the first game. But there are some great new features in this one that make it great. Have not finished the main story....I rarely do.
7. Death Stranding
Another one of streaming titles for me. Bought this entirely knowing I will be playing this on GeForceNow and it totally worked as a charm. Again, has not played that long, but will for sure be coming back. It has this nice balance of chill walking moments and stress-filled sneaking around monsters. Really cool, and weird.
6. Pistol Whip
So after my kid wished for a VR for his birthday (and after me looking for half a year where to get it for a reasonable amount of money) we are proud owners of Oculus Quest 1. And one of the games that we enjoy playing is this game that basically let's you be Neo from Matrix dodging bullets, shooting bad guys and do it to the rhythm of music. It's wild!
5. Minecraft Dungeons
If you have been sleeping on this, don't. It's a great Diablo "Lite" in a Minecraft skin. We played this with my son on Microsoft's GamePass and liked it so much that we straight up bought it for each of us. Coop going through the levels is really fun and adjustable difficulty let's you tailor each dungeon so it's not frustrating for you to finish it.
4. Risk of Rain 2
Similarly to the game above, this is a sleeper of a game. Kind of a rogue like coop (it's kind of a theme for us this year) shooter where you shoot your way through a series of maps "worlds" which seem to be randomized, with hidden secret worlds with special rules that keeps things interesting. There is a ton of unlockable things and characters, sometimes hidden behind a certain challenges "achievemnts" you have to do to unlock them, which make the achievements a thing you wanna do, instead of doing them by random playing, which you still do. We are not very good at this (or rather I am not good at this), but had crazy fun time playing.
3. Control
What a blast this game is. This game gives me strong X-Files vibes. It is full of mystery, there is great combat, you gain paranormal skills, it can be very difficult if you want a challenge and it looks stunning (GeforceNow again). Still need to finish it. Very strong third place in the list.
2. Beat Saber
I am very bad at this game, I have to confess. However, it does not stop me from feeling awesome when playing it. I will most likely never be good enough to finish a song on Expert (let alone expert+), I am just slow and panic too much when missing a cube, that throws me off and I end up missing the whole next sequence and I fail. Some songs just has such an amazing flow to them, I feel like great when finishing and want to go again. My son is much better at this than me and when I watch him play, I am squeezing my fists in tension so he doesn't miss with that insane speed he plays in some of the songs. Again, great party game taking turns in songs and probably would be my game of the year, if it wasn't for...
1. Hades
Mind you, I am not huge into rogue likes. I played my fair bit of Rogue Legacy and Dead Cells, but my twitch reflexes are not good enough to stick to the genre too long. Hades has few tricks up it's sleeve's though. Engaging story with great dialog, fully voiced (which still boggles my mind how they squeezed so much into this game, every time you speak with an NPC it has something new to tell, new line to say, it is insane!) and the flow of the game is somehow so relaxing. I am always curious what has changed after I die, what will be new, what powers I will get at the beginning. They really balanced those things very well to keep you entertained and wanting for more. A marvel.
Honorable mentions:
LambdaVR - HalfLife 1 done for VR. It's fun to watch my son go through it, help him along the way here and there.
Deisim - think Populous, but in VR, but a bit different. Great effort though.
I'm now realizing that half my list is full of games I play with my son watching or playing with me.
Very much the same for me. This year especially has been great for gaming together.
Not much worthy of The List this year for me. A new game purchase hiatus about halfway through the year along with a general malaise meant I did not play too many new-to-me things.
1. Shadow Empires
A deep crunchy wargame wrapped inside a 4X with enough personality that, with a little imagination, you get some interesting emergent stories every game. It ticks almost all my boxes for games I enjoy. Truly an outstanding game.
2. Crusader Kings 3
Slightly disappointing coming off of CK2, which is in my Pantheon of games. But that feeling may just be due to heightened expectations. I like how they embraced the personalities in the game while still keeping enough strategy elements to make things interesting. I do feel like they show you too much now and leave too little to the imagination. Still, I really enjoyed my time with it.
3. Maneater
Just dumb pretty mindless fun.
4. Deep Rock Galactic
Did not play as much as I would have liked, but had some great times with the folks I was able to play with. I am bad and will let my team down every time in one way or another but we will all laugh uproariously.
Game I Wish I Played But Just Wasn't in the Headspace To Try This Year
Disco Elysium - maybe in 2021 I will get around to it
All on PC.
Edit: meant to add (but got a little click-happy): thank you Eleima for running this crazy thing as always. And thanks to everyone who has and will post. It is fun to read everyone's list every year. I greatly appreciate them.
1. Blaseball - www.blaseball.com
I discovered the cultural event of Blaseball thanks to the conference call podcast and instantly fell in love with this weird gem of a web game and its amazing community. I even built my own statistics fan site that tracks Games Behind and Magic Numbers. The game itself is Night Vale meets baseball meets idle game, but it is so much more and just what I needed to get through 2020.
Also, the Commissioner is doing a great job!
2. Jackbox Party Packs 5, and 6 and Drawful 2
I am lumping these together since I bought and played them together. My introduction to these games was the Jack and Coke events at the beginning of the plague with Meebs and company (let's bring them back!). After a few weeks I bought my own copies to play with friends and family. We've had a ton of fun with online double date nights with other couples.
3. 3030 Deathwar Redux
An indie gem recommended by Veloxi that I loved and need to spend more time on. It's a top down space combat and trading sim, with Sierra Games style conversation with characters in space bars and is silly and weird and great.
4. Minecraft dungeons
Bought on a whim and played a lot of couch co-op with the Boss. Interesting take on Diablo with some fun challenges. We killed the main boss of the game on the normal difficulty, so I guess that counts as beating it.
5. Signs of the Sojourner
A beautiful indie game in the giant Humble Bundle about traveling and forging relationships through conversations. Love the look and feel, and gameplay.
6. Control
Only got about 3 bosses in and it just got too hard for me to enjoy, but I loved everything else about the game aside from its difficulty. I would love to spend more time in this world.
7. Elite: Dangerous
A beautiful space trucker simulator, that I wish I could play more, but time is precious, and I get interrupted by real life too often.
8. Horizon: Zero Dawn
I started it, but it didn't grab and distract me from other games. Too much like the new Tomb Raider games, I think.
Honorable Mention:
Rocket League! (It's the best league in the world!)
I have owned RL since 2017, but had really only played bot matches. The handful of times I played random strangers online I got told to uninstall the game because I drove like a grandma. Getting better on my own wasn't fun so I put the game down.
Fast-forward to October 2020. I downloaded it (again) on the Xbox One, because it was free, one of my local friends had it, to get some easy cheevos, and I wanted to see how pretty it would be on my theater projector (very!). A month later my wife sees me playing and wants to join in and beat up some bots for fun. After an AI season she says what's next? and we start playing split-screen online together with cross-team chat turned off (Epic blocks cross-platform chat, too. So that helps). By coincidence that night or the next there was a big group on the RL voice channel in Discord and they were incredibly nice and accommodating to us newbies. We played a ton of weird game modes in a private server so they could explain the mechanics to us. They even picked modes where the rocket flying is harder or less useful to limit their skill advantage somewhat. Boss ended up loving Dropshot for some reason and plays it solo all the time.
Over the last month and a half Boss and I have played with the Discord group almost every night, getting better all the time, and having lots of fun doing it. Boss is super extroverted and the general chit chat socializing has been huge for her. It sounds silly, but these meetups have been huge for our collective sanity (Boss is home full-time with baby #2 in the oven). She asks me to see who is in chat all the time. The in-game challenge chases for car decorations and profile stuff have also been really fun (except for extra modes MVP, f that challenge). HUGE shout-out and thanks to all of our RL buddies, even Dorkmanship, for their patience, tolerance, instruction, and for taking us under their wings.
I encourage anyone who wants to give Rocket League a try to join us in Discord, most evenings around 8 or 9 EST.
HUGE shout-out and thanks to all of our RL buddies, even Dorkmanship, for their patience, tolerance, instruction, and for taking us under their wings.
Look everyone, even me!! You hear that?! Even me!
Mixolyde wrote:HUGE shout-out and thanks to all of our RL buddies, even Dorkmanship, for their patience, tolerance, instruction, and for taking us under their wings.
Look everyone, even me!! You hear that?! Even me!
Pages